U.S. Performance Dashboard – March 2023

By | April 3rd, 2023|Markets, Quarterly Market Review|

  • Accompanied by shock waves from the demise of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and Credit Suisse, the first quarter was characterized by turbulent swings in inflation and rate hike expectations.
  • Despite the surrounding chaos, the market managed to rebound in March. Boosted by Information Technology, the S&P 500® posted a gain of 7.5% in Q1, outpacing smaller caps, with the S&P MidCap 400® up 4% and the S&P SmallCap 600® up 3%.
  • A flight to quality sentiment meant that Information Technology and Communication Services were the best-performing sectors for the quarter, up 22% and 21%, respectively. Financials was, unsurprisingly, the sectoral laggard. High Beta and Growth led among factors, while defensive strategies lagged.
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U.S. Performance Dashboard – February 2023

By | March 1st, 2023|General, Markets|

  • Market jitters returned in February, characterized by concerns over inflation and its impact on rates. In a reversal of January’s rosy performance, the S&P 500® finished down 2%. Smaller caps performed slightly better, with the S&P SmallCap 600® down 1%..
  • Fears of rising rates spread overseas, with the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI and the S&P Emerging BMI underperforming the U.S. and finishing with losses of 3% and 6%, respectively.
  • Information Technology was the only S&P 500 sector to post a gain, with Energy in the rear. All reported U.S. equity factors posted losses
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U.S. Performance Dashboard – January 2023

By | February 1st, 2023|Markets|

  • After a rollercoaster 2022 and despite mixed earnings results, January was a rosy start to the new year, characterized by better-than-expected GDP growth, a slowing pace of inflation and expectations of reduced rate hikes by the Fed, with the S&P 500® up 6%, posting its best January performance since 2019. Smaller caps performed relatively better, with the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® both up 9%.
  • International equities outperformed the U.S., boosted by a weakening U.S. dollar and China’s reopening, leading the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI and the S&P Emerging BMI to gains of 8% and 7%, respectively.
  • In a sharp reversal from last year, most S&P 500 sectors posted gains, with Consumer Discretionary in the lead. High Beta led among reported U.S. equity factors, while Low Volatility and Momentum lagged.           dashboard-us-2023-01

U.S. Performance Dashboard – November 2022

By | December 1st, 2022|General, Markets|

  • A rally on the last trading day of November capped off a month of relief for the market in the form of easing inflation and optimism surrounding a potential slowing pace of U.S. rate hikes. The S&P 500® posted its second consecutive month of gains, with a total return of 6%. The S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® were up 6% and 4%, respectively.
  • All S&P 500 sectors finished higher with Materials in the lead and every reported U.S. equity factor index also rose, led by High Beta.
  • Performance among commodities was mixed, with gains in Industrial and Precious Metals and declines among Livestock, Agriculture, and particularly Energy.
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U.S. Performance Dashboard – October 2022

By | November 1st, 2022|General, Markets|

  • Shrugging off disappointing “Big Tech” earnings and still-elevated inflation, hopes for a slowing pace of U.S. rate hikes helped the S&P 500® to its best month since July, with a total return of 8%.
  • Outside the tech titans, earnings figures have been relatively encouraging and smaller companies have been riding the positive sentiment to double-digit gains. The S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® were up 11% and 12%, respectively.
  • Every S&P 500 sector finished higher with Energy in the lead and every reported U.S. equity factor index also rose, led by Value and Momentum.
October Dashboard

U.S. Performance Dashboard – August 2022

By | September 1st, 2022|General, Markets|

  • U.S. equities began August continuing in rebound mode but reversed course to end the month in negative territory after a hawkish Fed and recession fears weighed on investors. The S&P 500® posted a loss of 4%, while the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® performed similarly with 3% and 4% declines.
  • All factor indices posted losses, with High Beta and Growth in the rear.
  • Most sectors posted losses; Energy and Utilities were the exceptions.

 

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U.S. Performance Dashboard – July 2022

By | August 1st, 2022|General, Markets|

  • After a tumultuous first half of the year, U.S. equities staged a stellar comeback in July, driven by Big Tech outperformance and anticipation of a potential slowing in the pace of future rate hikes by the Fed. The S&P 500® posted a gain of 9%, while the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® performed relatively better.
  • All factor indices posted gains, with High Beta and Growth in the lead.
  • All sectors posted gains, with Consumer Discretionary and Info Tech in the lead.

 

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U.S. Performance Dashboard – February 2022

By | March 2nd, 2022|Markets|

  • U.S. equities faced a challenging February, with escalating geopolitical concerns including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine along with uncertainty over the Fed’s rate hike trajectory resulting in the S&P 500® briefly trading in official correction territory.  Smaller-caps outperformed, with the S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® both up 1%.
  • International performance was also disappointing, with the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI down 1% and the S&P Emerging BMI down 3%, as swings in oil prices amid Ukraine-Russia tensions roiled markets.
  • High Beta was the only factor to post a gain, with Growth in the rear.
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U.S. Performance Dashboard – January 2022

By | February 1st, 2022|Markets|

  • Anxiety about impending rate hikes as well as a tapering in asset purchases by the Fed to combat inflation led to the worst monthly performance for U.S. equities since March 2020, with the S&P 500® down 5% in January. Smaller caps performed even worse.
  • International performance was also disappointing, with the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI down 5%. The S&P Emerging BMI, down 1%, fared slightly better, aided by strong performance in Latin America, although headwinds included Ukraine-Russia tensions as well as the Fed’s hawkish stance.
  • Given the risk-off sentiment, Dividend and Value strategies led. Growth was the laggard, down 8%.
January 2022 Market Update

Quarterly Market Review – Q4 2021

By | January 10th, 2022|Dimensional Fund Advisors, Markets, Quarterly Market Review|

This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets.

The report also illustrates the impact of globally diversified portfolios and features a quarterly topic. “All-Time High Anxiety”.

Click HERE  to download a full copy of the report.

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